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Archive for January, 2017

At Label Planet, we often group our labels into categories based on specific qualities and many of our product ranges take their names from the qualities that those labels possess. If you’re new to the world of labels, however, it can be a bit confusing if you aren’t sure what some (or all) of these terms mean – or at least what they mean in the specific world of labels and labelling. This short guide should help to make it clear what we mean when we use the following terms to describe our labels:

Permanent:
We use the word permanent to refer to labels that are made with a permanent adhesive; permanent adhesives are designed to create a strong bond between a label and an object that is difficult to break. It does NOT mean that these labels are impossible to remove; if someone is determined enough to remove a permanent label they will be able to do so (albeit with a serious amount of intent and effort and the likely result that both the label itself and the labelled item will be damaged in the process).

High Tack:
This refers to labels that are made with extremely strong, permanent adhesives; “tack” refers to the property of materials that allows them to adhere to a surface immediately upon contact – in other words, it describes how “sticky” a material is in a fluid or semi-fluid state. High tack labels, therefore, are highly sticky labels!

Removable:
We use the term removable to refer to labels that are made with a removable adhesive; removable adhesives are designed to create a bond between a label and an object so that the label can be removed cleanly and easily (without doing any damage or leaving behind any adhesive residue) when it is no longer needed. For this reason, removable labels may also be called “Temporary Labels”.

Finish:
This term refers to the qualities and properties of a material’s surface, including its appearance and texture. We supply three types of finish:

Gloss: gloss surfaces are generally very smooth and are highly efficient at reflecting light, which produces a decorative bright and shiny appearance.

Matt: matt surfaces are very poor at reflecting light, which creates a dull and non-shiny appearance.

Semi-Gloss: as a compromise between gloss and matt, semi-gloss surfaces do reflect light (but less efficiently than full gloss surfaces), which creates a more subtle shine.

Opaque:
Opaque materials do not transmit light; light cannot travel through these materials, which means that opaque materials cannot be seen through. Opaque materials are used to create “Blockout” labels that will prevent any existing print or design work from showing through a label, even if it is applied to a highly decorative surface. They are ideal for covering up existing print, recycling packaging, covering up errors, or simply to create a completely blank background onto which a new design or print can be added.

Transparent:
Transparent materials are extremely efficient at transmitting light; light travels through these materials, which means that you can see through transparent materials. Our transparent labels are not 100% transparent because they use an adhesive, which means that they may trap small air bubbles or particles of dust during application. Please note that we also use the term “clear” to refer to transparent materials.If a material only transmits some light, then it will not be completely transparent – these labels are usually known as Transluscent or Frosted labels.

Waterproof:
Waterproof materials can survive exposure to or immersion in water – which means our waterproof labels are the best option to choose if you need labels for an application that may involve water, for example outdoor labels or labels for use on items that will be stored and used in kitchens or bathrooms.

Splashproof:
This is a term that we use to describe our GW (gloss laser labels) and SG (semi-gloss laser labels); both of these products are paper labels, which means that they are not waterproof BUT the coatings applied to these labels to give them their gloss and semi-gloss finishes do provide limited protection if the labels are lightly splashed with water or get slightly dirty (hence splashproof). These labels provide a compromise between using standard paper labels (with no protection against water damage) and our synthetic labels (which are completely waterproof) – especially if you need to work within a limited budget.

Compatible:
Essentially, when we describe one of our labels as being “compatible” with a label product from a different company, we mean that the label size and layout (but not the materials used to make the labels) are the same for our labels as they are for the other product. For example, many of our label products are described as “Avery Compatible” and we provide “Compatible Avery Template Codes” for customers to use when printing their labels. All this means is that the label size and layout of our labels is the same as those of Avery labels and you can therefore use the same template to print both our labels and Avery labels.

Special Use:
Also known as “Media Labels”, these labels are a group of products that were each originally created to suit a specific purpose but can also be used for a wider range of label applications. They tend to be sizes that were designed for use on storage devices and folders, such as CDs and DVDs, box files and lever arch files, or videos and data cartridges.

Plastic:
Plastic is a general term that can be used to describe any synthetic material made from a wide range of organic polymers. We have three plastic materials; polyester, polyethylene, and vinyl (our Tamper Evident Vinyl). When we use the term “Plastic labels”, we are referring to our polyester and polyethylene (and vinyl) labels.

Tamper Evident:
A type of security label; security labels are labels with special features that are designed to improve the security of the items they are used to label. Tamper evident labels have features that allow them to provide visual evidence that someone has tampered with an item. We have TWO tamper evident labels; our Silver Void Labels leave the message “VOID” behind when they are removed from an item, while our Tamper Evident Vinyl Labels will disintegrate into tiny pieces if someone attempts to remove them.

You can find even more label terms (along with their definitions) in our online Glossary. If you have any questions or queries about what a particular term means or if you need any assistance choosing the right label for your specific label application, you can get in touch with our Customer Service Team by phone or email to find out more.

You may have noticed that a number of our label products are described as being “compatible with Avery labels” or “Avery compatible”. Simply put, this means that the label size and layout of our Label Planet labels is the same as the label size and layout of Avery labels.

This means that you can print Label Planet labels with an Avery template; we include compatible Avery codes for our products (where possible) because we know that some of our customers need to use an existing Avery template to print their labels. For example, if you are printing labels from specialist software for producing barcode labels, shipping labels, or product labels, the only templates built in to your software may be Avery templates – if we have a compatible label size, you will be able to buy labels from us and print them using the existing templates in your software.

While you might be perfectly happy using Avery labels, you may have found that we offer a particular label size in a different material or adhesive option that isn’t provided by Avery, that the materials used by Avery aren’t suitable for your application, that you struggle to source Avery labels in the quantities that you need, or you may simply want the freedom to shop around as you please.

If any of these are true, you can buy labels from Label Planet safe in the knowledge that they are the same as the Avery labels that you have used before/are the same as the Avery template that you want or need to use to print your labels. We also offer a free sample request service so you can try out our labels for yourself and see if they are suitable for the task at hand.

You can find a full list of Label Planet labels that have compatible Avery templates on our website here; alternatively, if you have a specific Avery code in mind, you can use our Search By Avery Code page to see if we have a label size that is compatible with your Avery code.

If you’re looking for labels, you might not have realised how many different options are out there, which can make picking the perfect label a bit of a problem. Here at Label Planet, we’ve added a few helpful resources to our website that you can use to make sure that you choose the right label for your specific label application.

The Label Finder
Our label finder is designed to create a shortlist of options for you to choose from based on the information that you enter; all you need to do is select the specifications that you need your labels to match and the finder will automatically create a list of Label Planet labels that meet those requirements.

You can narrow down your options by entering the type of printer you want to use, the shape and/or size of label you want to use, any preferences you have for the material/colour/adhesive/finish, if you need waterproof labels or not, or you can use our “Label Use” category to see a list of products that we recommend for a particular label application.

Search By Pages & Label Lists
Our search by pages help you to find out what products are available from Label Planet, based on a specific requirement that you have – for example, you can search by number of labels per sheet, by label width or height, or by Avery code – to see if we have a label size that is the same as the Avery labels/template that you already use.

Alternatively, you can use our label lists to view all of the label products that we supply that are a certain “type” of label, such as “All Colours”, “All Transparent”, “All Removable” etc.

Range Pages (and Material Specification Sheets)
Each of our products has its own range page, which provides you with more information about each particular range, including key facts (material, adhesive, printer compatibility etc), product information, common and popular uses, and a material specification sheet (which has more detailed information about the materials used to make each range).

Samples
We also operate a free sample request service so you can request a couple of options that you think will be suitable and test them to determine whether or not they really are the right choice. If you really aren’t sure which labels would be suitable, you can simply fill in our online Sample Request form (or give us a call) to let us know what your label application is and the kind of labels you want so that we can send you a selection of the labels that we believe are the best options for you to choose from – all you need to do is provide us with as much information as you can about your application and we’ll work out which labels should be the right ones.

Get In Touch
If all else fails and you’re still confused, remember you can always contact our Customer Service Team to discuss your requirements and get some assistance with choosing the right labels for your label application.

We also have a few extra TOP TIPS to consider when you are choosing labels:Budget: if you have to keep to a strict budget, our paper labels will ALWAYS be the cheapest options to choose from, labels in a different colour/adhesive/finish will cost a little bit more, and our synthetic materials (polyester, polyethylene, and vinyl) will always be the most expensive options. We operate a price break system so it might be worth buying a slightly larger order than you need immediately (and storing the leftovers for future use) to save you a bit of money in the long run.Quantity: if you only need a few labels you will need to make sure you look at our STOCKED items; these products have a minimum order quantity of 25 sheets and are listed in the TOP section of our range pages. Our non-stocked items are either made to order items or are kept in stock at our warehouse – these products have a minimum order quantity of 500 sheets, which may be way more than you need.

Visit our website to find all of the helpful extras listed above; you can use our List of All Labels page to see all of the label ranges available from Label Planet (along with a link to the range page for each), or use our Contact Us page to find out how you can get in touch for a bit more help and advice on choosing the right label for your specific label application.

You might be surprised at just HOW important it is to use the right printer (and print settings) when you are printing your own labels. Your choice of printer determines a number of factors that can have a big influence on the quality of print that you can achieve when printing labels (that is, if you can print labels at all).

Type Of Printer:
All of our labels are supplied on A4 sheets and are designed specifically for use with standard desktop inkjet printers and laser printers. You may have noticed that all of our label products are marked with a particular printer compatibility – Laser Only, Inkjet Only, or Laser & Inkjet.

This is because the two types of printers use two different printing methods and our labels are generally made with materials that suit one of these print methods. Laser printers use heat and pressure to bond a dry powder called toner into place, which means that laser labels are made using materials that have a smooth, consistent surface and that are heat resistant (paper laser labels, for example, will have a much higher moisture content than standard sheets of paper). Inkjet printers, however, will disperse inks (usually water-based) onto a surface where they will dry in place to form the final printed image or design. Inkjet labels, therefore, may have a slightly porous surface to absorb some of the ink and allow it to dry in place much more accurately.

If you try to print laser labels with an inkjet printer or inkjet labels with a laser printer, the best you can hope for is extremely low quality print – at worst you could damage your labels and your printer so you MUST make sure that the labels you buy are compatible with your printer.

You may also find that certain label products are only available for ONE type of printer. For example, all of our Waterproof Labels are laser labels – this is because laser printers create waterproof print, whereas inkjet printers tend to use water-based inks that will run or smudge if they get wet (or even if they’re simply handled a lot).

Model Of Printer:
The next factor is the exact model of printer that you intend to use. Some models of printer will have limitations that make them entirely unsuitable for printing labels, while others will have features specifically designed to produce high quality print on labels.

As a general rule, if you want to print labels you will need to use a general purpose printer – not an All-In-One Printer or a printer that is designed for a specific purpose other than printing labels (e.g. Photo Printers). All-in-one printers are designed to do a lot of different tasks to a reasonable standard (rather than doing one specific task to an exceptional standard), which means they are often too limited in their specifications to print labels properly (if at all). General purpose printers will usually include a range of hardware and software features that are designed specifically for use when printing labels – to improve the print quality and alignment accuracy that you can achieve.

Some printers will also be limited in the types and thicknesses of materials that they can accept and process properly; labels are made from a variety of materials and are naturally thicker than paper because they are made up of several layers (there are at least three: face material, adhesive, and backing sheet, with some labels having extra layers such as special coatings).

The best thing to do is to check the manufacturer’s manual for the following:

Specifications: there should be a section that lists the hardware features and specifications of your printer, including whether or not it has a media bypass tray, along with the types and weights of materials that it can accept.

Recommended guidelines: if your printer does have features for printing labels then the manual may also include recommended guidelines for how to print labels (including any specific print settings you should use).

While we don’t recommend any specific models of printer (you do, after all, need to buy one that is suitable for your unique set of printing requirements and budget), we do recommend the OKI and HP brands, as we have found that their printers tend to be able to handle large volumes and thicker materials very efficiently.

Printer Hardware Features
As we mentioned above, you should make sure that your printer has a media bypass tray; this is a secondary tray, usually located just above or below the paper tray, that is designed to accept thicker media (such as labels and envelopes) and to bypass at least one set of rollers within the printer, which produces a straighter path through the machine and reduces the chances of your label sheets rotating slightly as they are printed (improving the accuracy of alignment that you get).

You may also want to check if your printer offers the following features:Wide Edge Feed (Long Edge Feed) AND Narrow Edge Feed (Short Edge Feed); most printers will have trays that use narrow edge feed, which means that your sheets feed into your printer narrow edge leading (portrait). If your printer offers both types of feed you must make sure that you only use the narrow edge option (and check that your print settings are also set to this option). All of our labels are made with layouts that are designed to feed narrow edge leading, while our paper labels also have a grain (like wood) that goes in this direction. If you feed your labels into your printer wide edge leading (against the grain), you may find that they start to separate from the backing sheet, which can cause your label sheets to jam in your printer.Edge-To-Edge Printing; also known as “borderless” printing, this feature will allow you to print all the way to the edge of an A4 sheet. Most standard desktop printers cannot do this, which means there will be a border around the edge of your label sheets that your printer simply cannot print – if any part of any of your labels fall into this unprintable area, you will need to adapt your design to make sure that these areas of your template are left blank.

Printer Software Features (aka Print Settings)
Finally, you need to make sure your printer offers suitable print settings for printing labels – AND that you have actually selected these settings when you print. Before printing, check your Printer’s Properties for the following:

Page Size: this must be A4 (you should always check this as some printers will sometimes default to American Letter).

Media Type/Weight: choose a specific “Labels” print setting if one is available; if not, choose a “Heavy Paper” setting to get the best possible print quality on your labels.

Scaling: make sure that no scaling options are applied (for example, a percentage or any “Fit To Page” options).

“Ignore Printer Settings”//”Use Driver Settings”: these options will cause your printer to ignore any specific settings that you have selected to use when printing your labels and will use a default set installed in your printer’s driver (software) instead.

Visit our Help Pages for more tips and advice on printing your own labels or visit our List Of All Materials page to view all of the label products available from Label Planet along with their printer compatibility.

Happy New Year To All Of Our Customers!

We hope you had a marvellous time over the Christmas break and had a spectacular start to the New Year.

Here at Label Planet, we’re back in the office and are busy processing orders that were placed over the Christmas holidays. If you did place an order over the break then you should shortly be receiving an email confirming that we have processed your order and it is either being manufactured (made to order items) or will be despatched this afternoon.

Orders of stocked items will be despatched this afternoon via Royal Mail’s first class service (25-200 sheets; if you selected the next day delivery option when you ordered, your order will be despatched via Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed service) or our next working day carrier service (250+ sheets). New orders, meanwhile, will be processed according to our usual despatch and delivery estimates:

STOCKED ITEMS: Small Orders (25-200 sheets): Despatch: same day via Royal Mail’s first class service (up to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday)This is not a guaranteed next day service; if you need to receive your order quickly, you can upgrade to Royal Mail’s guaranteed next day delivery option online or by phone – this service will mean your order will arrive by 1pm on the next working day and will require a signature upon delivery. We also offer pre-9am and Saturday delivery options but you must request these by phone.

Medium Orders (250-475 sheets):Despatch: same day via next working day carrier service (up to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday) – a signature upon delivery is required.

Large Orders (500+ sheets):Despatch: same day via next working day carrier service (up to 3pm, Monday to Friday, subject to stock availability) – a signature upon delivery is required. If an item is temporarily out of stock, it will usually take a couple of working days for your labels to be made and despatched.

Please note: some of our coloured labels have a minimum order quantity of 100 sheets, which means that they are kept in stock at our warehouse and are despatched via next working day carrier service – while we do our best to ensure that these items remain in stock, there may be times when an item goes temporarily out of stock and despatch will be delayed a few days while the items are made.

NON-STOCKED/MADE TO ORDER ITEMS (500+ SHEETS): Despatch: next working day carrier service (once items have been manufactured)These items are manufactured on a rotating schedule, which means the lead time is UP TO five working days for despatch (although standard paper products are usually despatched more quickly than this).

Please note: if you are ordering 250+ sheets and need your labels in a hurry, you can call us to request a timed delivery service via carrier (such as a pre-10:30am or a pre-noon delivery slot). Orders of 250+ sheets for Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Islands With UK Postcodes, and UK “Extended Postcode” areas will be sent on a 2-3 working day carrier service.

If you want to order from the Republic of Ireland, you do need to order by phone so that we can quote for and arrange the best possible shipping option for the exact items and quantities that you need to order.

Our office hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday; to qualify for same day despatch, you must order by 3pm (250+ sheets) or 4:30pm (less than 250 sheets) – and please note that we do NOT offer same day delivery.

If you have any questions or queries about ordering labels from Label Planet – whether you’ve already ordered over the winter break or you’d like to place an order now – please get in touch with our Customer Service Team for assistance.

Label Planet is a UK label supplier specialising in labels on A4 sheets. If you are an existing customer then many thanks for coming back; please let us know if we can assist in any way, particularly if you are looking for something different. If you are a new visitor then we hope you find what you need. We are always happy to help and we can supply free samples for you to try. Our website includes free templates for you to download. We supply labels directly to individuals, companies, and organisations of all kinds in quantities of 25 sheets to 40,000 sheets.

Where applicable, our products are the same size format as the Avery product references (e.g. L7163 or J8163) shown above. These product references are used because they are size formats that are found in most software packages. We list the product references along with our own Label Planet Ltd code for your easy cross referencing with the software. Avery and Avery product references are the trade marks of the Avery Dennison Group. Label Planet Ltd products are not made or endorsed by the Avery Dennison Group.